Below is a direct quotation from the Minutes of the Waratah Wynyard Council Meeting of 16 August 2021:
WARATAH 150 YEAR CELEBRATIONS To: Council Reporting Officer: Manager Community Activation Responsible Manager: General Manager Report Date: 26 July 2021 File Reference: 001 Enclosures: Nil
RECOMMENDATION That Council note the intention of the Waratah community to hold a celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of the discovery of tin at Mount Bischoff in Waratah and provide an appropriate level of support to assist in coordination of the event.
PURPOSE To mark the 150th anniversary of the discovery of tin at Mount Bischoff, Waratah community members and other stakeholders are hosting a series of events primarily to run over the weekend of 4-5 December 2021.
BACKGROUND On 4 December 1871 James ‘Philosopher’ Smith discovered tin at Waratah. This discovery triggering the creation of the Waratah township, a mining boom and invigoration of the island’s social, political, and economic development. Waratah became the world’s richest tin mine and mining surpassed wool growing as the colony’s largest industry.
By the time of Federation in 1901 the Mount Lyell Copper Mine at Queenstown was the ‘engine room’ of the Tasmanian economy.
DETAILS Descendants of James Smith, Peter, and Sue Smith will host an historical display at the Athenaeum Hall in support of celebrations of the 150th anniversary of tin discovery at Mount Bischoff.
Themes of the display will be James Smith’s life story, explorations, and mining development in Waratah. Rarely seen primary source information, memorabilia and interpretation will provide a unique and engaging visitor experience.
Events to celebrate the anniversary will be conducted from late November over a four-week period. The official launch will be held at 2.00pm on 4 December 2021 and will include a presentation by Nic Haygarth. Guests will be invited to attend, and refreshments will be provided to launch attendees. Council can support the community by being involved in promotion, through helping with the creation and distribution of a program and utilizing communication networks to publicize the historical display and other community led events.
A community meeting was held in Waratah on Saturday 31 July where community members identified a range of events they will develop. A proposal for the funding of a commemorative statue has been distributed to Councillors via email on July 9, 2021.
Council have confirmed that no State or Federal funding is currently reserved for this project.
It is recommended that a financial provision be made for the Waratah-Wynyard fabrication and installation of an interpretation panel, in line with the Waratah-Wynyard Council Signage Strategy, that recognises the significant contribution of James Smith and his tin discovery that can be officially unveiled in Waratah to coincide with the 150-year milestone.
I appreciate and thank the above commentary from the council; I have also seen the minutes of the community meeting on 31 July referenced above. Those minutes incorporate many proposed activities which I fully support but I will not release this material as it includes names of some members of the community that I suspect would prefer to remain nameless.
But the tragedy in all of this is the complete absence of any articulated support, both in dollars and management from:
- The Gutwein government, including zero, zip, zilch, nothing, nought, from local elected members and ministers
- The federal political reporesentatives of Tasmania of all parties (and independents)
- The mining mob: Grange Resources, Bluestone Minerals, TMEC
- Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania
- Heritage Tasmania
- Neighbouring councils
What are they not understanding?
Philosopher Smith Saves Tasmania 150 Years Ago – Tasmanian Times
How can these elected representatives ignore the Philosopher Smith contribution to Tasmanian economic history but, ipso facto, provide substantive financial support to irrelevant entities with insignificant history like the Federal Hotels group, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, TasWater, Hydro Tasmania, etc?
Perhaps those government representatives are in fact a recreation of that famous 60’s rock group the MIA’s?
Help! We need somebody
Help! Not just anybody
Help! You know we need someone
Help!
150 years ago, today in a place so far away
we never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone and we’re feeling desolate
Now we find we need support; we’ve opened up our arms
Help us because YOU can, we’re feeling down
And we wonder where the hell YOU are?
Help us celebrate our history
Won’t you please, please help us?
And now our life has changed in oh so many ways
The independence WE gave YOU seems to be irrelevant in your haze
And right now WE feel so insecure
We know that we just need YOU like we’ve never done before
Help us because YOU can, we’re feeling down
And we do appreciate if YOU gave some funds $$ and support
Help us celebrate what Philosopher did for YOU
150 years ago, today in a place so far away
We never needed anybody’s help in any way
But now these days are gone and we’re feeling desolate
Now we find we need support; we’ve opened up our arms
Help us because YOU can, we’re feeling down
And we wonder where the hell YOU are?
Help us celebrate our history
Won’t YOU please, please help us?
If not, why not?
Missing in Action as always #PapiG, #SuperFergie and the gang of corporates.
Help us, help us, oh please help us.
John Powell was born in Rushworth Victoria; educated at Dandenong High School and Monash University; National Service during the Vietnam War; employed in oil/gas, water, and the resources sectors; proud Celt; protector of environment and Aboriginal heritages; stubborn and resolute.
